The Denver Broncos sent the Cleveland Browns  their third-round pick, No. 87 overall, and a fourth-rounder (No. 120) in order to move up to pick 67 to select RB Ronnie Hillman. A workhorse for the Aztecs, Hillman finished his college career with 3,243 yards rushing. That’s third on the school’s all-time list, trailing only Marshall Faulk (4,589 yards) and Larry Ned (3,462).

Hillman stands at 5’9″ and 200 pounds and ran a 4.4. His best qualities are his determination, hard work, and quickness.

Hillman will more than likely serve as the backup for Willis McGahee, who led the team in rushing with 1,199 yards last season, but I could see him finding playing time and he could end up being one of newly acquired Broncos QB Peyton Manning’s favorite targets out of the backfield. He will battle Knowshon Moreno for playing time and to be the change of pace back to McGahee. Hillman reminds me a lot of Joseph Addai and the Broncos may have been trying to bring in a similar back that Manning had alongside while with the Indianapolis Colts.

My prediction for Hillman is that he will receive about 5 carries a game and have an opportunity to also catch 3-4 passes a game. I see him in on 3rd downs if he develops into a great blocker in pass protection. I could also see Hillman collecting 80 carries for 300+ yards and catch 30 receptions for 200+ yards. I just firmly believe that Moreno’s time may have came to an end in Denver as he has been a bust since being drafted in the 12th pick in the 1st round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

John Fox has always done well with multiple talented backs and I hope that trend continues in Denver.

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The Denver Broncos took a QB in the 2nd round of the 2012 NFL Draft when they selected Brock Osweiler. Just weeks after signing Peyton Manning, and when many thought the Broncos should be drafting players to help Manning, they took another QB that can be groomed by Manning for a couple of years.

In a perfect world Manning plays great for about 3 years, retires as a Bronco, and Osweiler is the next Aaron Rodgers.  It seems the Broncos are taking the same approach that the Green Bay Packers took with Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Matt Flynn. If it all works out maybe the Broncos will end up with Brock Osweiler being the new Aaron Rodgers or a Matt Flynn that will be big time trade bait in about 3 years.

Brett Favre was already in Green Bay and was the fans favorite when the Packers drafted Rodgers late in the 1st round, Rodgers sat, learned, and became the next great QB for the Packers. The Broncos are most likely leaning towards the Rodgers strategy in that they are hoping that Osweiler learns enough from Manning that when he retires Osweiler can step right in and the Broncos wont miss a beat.

John Elway loves Osweiler. He is massive at 6’7″ tall and weighs 242 pounds. He has impressive speed and agility and is a natural leader. Osweiler also has above average arm strength but needs time to develop into a polished passer. I think Osweiler is a lot like Elway as a QB. The question that we will have to wait on an answer for is if it was too early to draft a successor to Manning.

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Derek Wolfe, DT Cincinnati (Round 2, Pick 36 Overall)

The Broncos took Wolfe with their initial selection. He’s 6’5″ and 295 pounds and is the reigning Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He was a 3-year starter at Cincinnati and gained a reputation for being a hard worker. Wolfe has excellent pass-rushing skills, is stout against the run, and is relentless with his effort. The national experts heaped a ton of praise on this selection, and it sounds like Wolfe could become a fan favorite very quickly.

How much Wolfe will contribute in his rookie season is yet to be determined, but the depth chart will just have aging veterans DT Ty Warren and DT Kevin Vickerson ahead of him. Warren is 31 and has battled several injuries over the last couple of seasons. He did not play in one game last season due to an injury. Vickerson is 29 and will be in his 8th season despite only have started in a total of 18 games over the past 7 seasons. Last season Vickerson played in 5 games and started 4 even though he only recorded 4 tackles.

Wolfe should get a chance to start right away based on only having aging veterans who have been injured recently ahead of him and Vickerson is not starting material. Wolfe is going to give you the energy you need to spark a defense and lead a team by example. He has a high motor and very good work ethic and I believe these trait will find him a starting role sooner rather than later.

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Broncos’ new cornerback Tracy Porter avoided suspension from his playing days in New Orleans and will not face any type of punishment resulting from the bounty scandal. Tracy, who will be entering his fifth year in the league, played all four season of his career in NO, most of them under bounty culprit and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Although Tracy’s name never came up publicly in the bounty talk, it was still a possibility that the NFL could investigate him since he was a starter on the defense during that time period. When the Broncos signed him in March they were confident that he was not involved in the bounty program and would not face any type of punishment.

Porter started in in 39 of his 43 games after being drafted by the Saints in 2008 from the University of Indiana. He has seven career interceptions and picked off four during the Saints’ 2009 Super Bowl championship season. One of those four interceptions during that season is something that another Broncos player would like to forget.

Porter returned an interception 74 yards for a touchdown in the Saints Super Bowl win and it came off of none other than current Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. That pick six sealed the game for the Saints and propelled them to their first Super Bowl championship in franchise history.

Manning hopes that Porter can pick on a different quarterback this time and his interception can help seal a Broncos Super Bowl win.

Take a look at the Broncos’ selections and maybe you will decide that their draft wasn’t that bad after all. Many of the analysts were grading the Broncos’ draft negatively because of the need to draft immediate impact players. I think there were several that will impact the team quickly.

Derek Wolfe, DT Cincinnati (Round 2, Pick 36 Overall)

According to Mike Klis of the Denver Post, Denver would have taken guard David DeCastro if he would have slipped to them at 25, but the Pittsburgh Steelers snagged him at 24. Denver had known all along that they would trade back in this scenario and that’s exactly what happened. DeCastro did not fall and the Broncos were on the phone trying to trade. The New England Patriots decided to give the Broncos a 4th round pick in order to swap picks in the first round and selected LB Dont’a Hightower from the University of Alabama.

The Broncos then owned the 31st pick of the 1st round and decided that they could trade this pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and still get their man, DT Derek Wolfe, at pick 36. In return, the Broncos received another 4th round pick.

The Broncos took Wolfe with their initial selection. He’s 6’5″ and 295 pounds and is the reigning Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He was a 3-year starter at Cincinnati and gained a reputation for being a hard worker. Wolfe has excellent pass-rushing skills, is stout against the run, and is relentless with his effort. The national experts heaped a ton of praise on this selection, and it sounds like Wolfe could become a fan favorite very quickly.

Brock Osweiler, QB Arizona State (Round 2, Pick 57 Overall)

In another shocking move the Broncos took a QB in the 2nd round when they selected Brock Osweiler. Just weeks after signing Peyton Manning, and when many thought the Broncos should be drafting players to help Manning, they took another QB that can be groomed by Manning for a couple of years.

Did everyone forget that Manning did have those neck surgeries and miss an entire season? What if Manning doesn’t fully recover or gets hit and re-injures his neck? This pick may not be a long-term development if something goes wrong with Manning.

In a perfect world Manning plays great for about 3 years, retires as a Bronco, and Osweiler is the next Aaron Rodgers. What is wrong with preparing for the future? The Broncos may truly believe they have enough offensive weapons to help Manning.

Regardless, John Elway loves Osweiler. He is massive at 6’7″ tall and weighs 242 pounds. He has impressive speed and agility and is a natural leader. Osweiler also has above average arm strength but needs time to develop into a polished passer. I think Osweiler is a lot like Elway as a QB. The question that we will have to wait on an answer for is if it was too early to draft a successor to Manning.

Ronnie Hillman, RB San Diego State (Round 3, Pick 67 Overall)

Denver sent the Cleveland Browns its third-round pick, No. 87 overall, and a fourth-rounder (No. 120) in order to move up to pick 67 to select RB Ronnie Hillman.

A workhorse for the Aztecs, Hillman finished his college career with 3,243 yards rushing. That’s third on the school’s all-time list, trailing only Marshall Faulk (4,589 yards) and Larry Ned (3,462).

No one so far has compared him to Faulk that I know of, but based on size, speed and colleges they have a lot in common. Hillman was drafted 65 picks later than Faulk was in 1994 when Faulk was drafted 2nd overall by the Indianapolis Colts. Hillman could have half the success that Faulk had and still be slated as a steal in the 3rd round - I could see that happening.

Faulk ran a 4.28 forty-yard dash time at the combine and measured 5’10″ and 207 pounds. On March 31, 1994, Faulk ran a 4.35 forty-yard time at the San Diego State Pro Day. Hillman stands at 5’9″ and 200 pounds and ran a 4.4. He may not be quite as fast as Faulk, but he has the same kind of quickness.

Hillman will more than likely serve as the backup for Willis McGahee, who led the team in rushing with 1,199 yards last season, but I could see him finding playing time and could end up being one of Manning’s favorite targets out of the backfield.

Omar Bolden, CB Arizona State (Round 4, Pick 101 Overall)

Bolden provides some much needed youth to an aging secondary. The Broncos lost veteran Andre Goodman and picked up Tracy Porter who is in his prime, but they still needed some more young talent and Bolden could be just that. If he hadn’t had injury concerns he very easily could have been a 2nd round pick. Bolden is a high-character guy known for his leadership and he is above average in coverage, run-support, and ball skills. Bolden could easily be a steal for the 4th round if he avoids injuries.

Philip Blake, C Baylor (Round 4, Pick 108 Overall)

Blake is a 3-year starter from Baylor, he’s very smart and plays with a lot of effort. At 311 pounds he has plenty of bulk and he should push for a spot at either center or guard immediately. Denver’s interior line is not very good and with a little improvement Blake should soon start.

Malik Jackson, DE Tennessee (Round 5, Pick 137 Overall)

Jackson is a big defensive end with his 6’5″ and 284-pound frame. One of his biggest strengths is his versatility so he will probably add some bulk and see time in the middle of the defensive line. He will also most likely be a rotational player but has the potential to turn into a nice run stuffer.

Danny Trevathan, OLB Kentucky (Round 6, Pick 188 Overall)

Grabbing a late round linebacker is typical to bolster the special teams, and Trevathan will contribute to that unit immediately. He has some intriguing upside, though, and could see some playing time in the future. He was a team captain in college and continued a trend by the Broncos of selecting players with good leadership qualities. Trevathan has great instincts and above average speed so he is projected as more of a coverage guy who could see time as a 3rd down specialist.

The more you start to look at these draft picks you will start to notice that there is a lot of immediate help. There are a few picks here that could turn out to be steals. Remember this: there are a lot of smart football guys that contributed in making these choices in Elway, John Fox, and I am sure Peyton had his hand in the mix as well.

Were these draft picks and moves good decisions? I don’t know and neither does anyone else, but we will find out soon. However there is a lot of potential here.

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Elway essentially picked up one extra pick by falling into the second round of the draft. The Broncos now have the following picks: 36, 57, 87, 101, 108, 120, 137, 188. With a team that is trying to break out of their growing pains with Peyton Manning, they still have a number of holes to cover up to become a legitimate contender. Does Elway believe that there are enough middle tier players to fill those holes?

If not the Broncos now have the flexibility to trade up for another second round pick if necessary. The great thing about second round picks is that no one puts as much weight on them. After the number 32 pick, the assumption is that the talent pool goes way down. Elway is a competitor; this was a strategy to save face as much as anything.

Speaking of saving face, Brian Xanders anyone? Where is the Broncos General Manager? Since the signing of Peyton Manning he is even less noticeable than he was with Josh McD. The Broncos have suddenly become Elway’s team. Luckily in Denver, it always will be. At the Denver Mint, the money is printed, “In Elway we Trust.”

For Denver Bronco’s Day Two Coverage, Check out David LaRose

After one round of the draft there where many trades made, the Denver Broncos moved down from pick 25 to pick 31 when the New England Patriots traded them a 4th round pick in order to swap places in the 1st round and select LB Dont’a Hightower from Alabama.

Then when pick 31 came around the Tampa Bay Buccaners were on the phone with the Broncos and managed a trade that moved the Broncos out of the first round to pick 36 and swapped 4th round picks. The trade allowed the Bucs to draft RB Doug Martin from Boise State and moved the Broncos down 5 spots, but the Broncos moved up 25 spots in the 4th round.

I am not sure if the Broncos think that the guy they want will fall to pick 36 or if the guys they wanted kept getting picked ahead of them, but either way the Broncos are now primed for a big day 2 and 3 of the draft.

The Broncos now have accumulated two 2nd round picks, one 3rd rounder, three 4th rounders, one 5th, and 6th rounder. I will be tuned in to see what the Broncos add in day two of the draft. I will be curious to see what they get and if it’s who they wanted the whole time. The Broncos biggest needs may be these positions… DT, DB, RB, SS, QB. We will just have to see tonight on ESPN at 6:30 ET.

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First, if the players that Denver had targeted at No. 25 are still there when they pick at No. 36 then the Broncos weren’t hurt by their moves. Why not try to get the best value for the pick without drafting a player too high just to pick someone. They only received a 4th round pick in the trade but it’s one more player for Elway to pull the trigger on. Second, the Broncos now have the potential to package another deal together to add one more pick in the second or third round. If you are Denver, the more picks the better. Finally, the Broncos have more holes to fill than picks in this year’s draft and with the possibility of six picks in rounds two through four they have the opportunity to answer some of those needs.

Speaking of needs, the top positions that the Broncos need to improve at or add to are defensive tackle, cornerback, running back, offensive line depth and another quarterback behind Peyton Manning. The Broncos were a little discouraged with all of the defensive tackles taken before their pick in the first round so Elway made the move to trade out of the round and add more picks. However, I think that Denver had Penn State DT Devon Still targeted all along and they anticipate him still being there when they pick at No. 36. At this point Still is the best defensive tackle available and he will likely be taken by the Broncos.

Here are the rest of the picks for Denver on Day 2 of the 2012 NFL Draft along with my predictions:

Second Round:

No. 36- Devon Still, DT Penn State

No. 57- Peter Konz, C Wisconsin

Third Round:

No. 87- Casey Hayward, CB Vanderbilt

Here are the rest of the picks the Broncos have if they don’t make any other trades: No. 101, 108, 120, 137, 188. They have a lot of picks in the next few rounds so it will be exciting to see who becomes a part of the Denver Broncos franchise.

The Broncos have been lacking a force in the middle of the defensive line for several years now, which is a problem that head coach John Fox is not accustomed to. Fox has had several great defensive tackles when he was in Carolina and that turned into a great run defense, which turned into great teams.

The Broncos have already bolstered their secondary with the signings of FS Mike Adams from Cleveland and CB Tracy Porter from New Orleans, but still may need a young CB/SS in the draft. I still think the most important position to upgrade in the 1st round at this point is the DT position.

In a recent post I mentioned the Broncos taking DT Michael Brockers out of LSU. If Brockers doesn’t fall, Still could be a great selection at pick #25.

Still is another guy that the Broncos need to have their eye on and hope that he falls to pick #25.  At 6’5 and 303 pounds he will be a heck of a run stuffer and he should require many double teams that will free up other defenders.

Still seems to be a high motor guy that has a quick first step and will give quarterbacks heck, but may not actually record the sack himself. He will see several double teams which should free up fellow defenders and allow the linebackers to play freely and others to put pressure on the quarterback. He may not be stellar on run defense but should run into some tackles. If he can develop his run defense he could be a great NFL player.

In 2011 playing for Penn State, Still received the Big Ten defensive player of the year award. He recorded 55 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. These stats are pretty impressive and he played in a big time conference. I look forward to seeing him play for the Broncos I hope.

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There is one big difference in running an offense in Denver rather than Indianapolis -  the weather in Denver. Yes, I know that both places are cold during the fall and winter, but the thing that is going to be the most difficult in Denver is the altitude. Denver’s altitude is much higher than Indianapolis, which means the air is thinner and there are many changes human bodies go through at higher altitudes.

According to Polomar College, “When we travel to high mountain areas, our bodies initially develop inefficient physiological responses.  There is an increase in breathing and heart rate to as much as double, even while resting.   Pulse rate and blood pressure go up sharply as our hearts pump harder to get more oxygen to the cells.” These changes in our bodies makes us get tired faster and more easily.

This change to the no huddle could benefit the Broncos more than any other team because of these altitude facts. The main point in running a no huddle style offense is to speed up the pace of the game, keep your hot streaks going and keep the defense from making any personnel changes which in return tire down the defense. It will benefit the Broncos more than any other team because they have a home field which is at a very high altitude. The opposing defenses will battle all of these body changes that were stated above every time they play in Denver.

Denver must work hard to perfect this offense. If head coach John Fox will dedicate their offense to this and everyone buys in, this could be more beneficial than many would think. Denver already has been known for their home field being an advantage, but now it could become even more of an advantage.

Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio must also be excited, but will also need to have his defense in shape and ready for this style of play. This offense tends to have the defense back on the field pretty quickly as well, but hopefully playing with a lead instead of coming from behind.

I will be tuned in ready to see the Broncos each and every week. There are many changes and most of which I think will improve the Broncos overall.

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